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Update:

In case you haven't noticed, there is an additional child in our family photo. I would like you all to meet the newest member of our family. She is the pretty little 7 year old in the purple dress. "Eloise" now has a little sister. We have decided to call her, "Amelia Bedelia".

Monday, January 30, 2012

Emotional Roller Coaster.....

I am sitting here completely spent.

As soon as I finish typing this I will probably melt into my mattress and fall fast asleep.

I thought sharing the events of today would help me unwind.

I am amazed that in less than 24 hours I have experienced so many emotions.

Hectic:

This one is normal for a Sunday, because hubby drives the church bus, I teach Sunday school twice, then we race home for Sunday Evening Worship service.

Excited:

Because the little office in the VFW hall in Houma is starting to look more and more like a Sunday School class.

Euphoric:

I am not exaggerating about this one y'all. The service tonight was off the charts. We have had plenty of awesome services, but this was different. It started with the usual dance and shout, but then a sweet spirit of love and healing swept through the church. All I could do was smile and cry, as I looked around at my beautiful church family. Everyone was binding together to pray for each others needs, then the dance and shout resumed. After a bit of praying for others, I began to pray for myself. I prayed till I temporarily lost my voice. When the service was over, many people lingered; simply enjoying each others company and the presence of the Lord.

Shocked:

Tired and hungry from a couple of hours of intense worship, a few of us went out for a snack. I had just gotten seated when I noticed a girl that I went to middle school with. She was once beautiful and seemingly happy. Tonight she looked like an empty shell; what was left after satan had stripped her of everything good.

I thought about talking to her, but wondered if she would even remember me. She was clearly intoxicated and I have only seen her once or twice in the past 22 years. I tried to eat, but didn't get one bite before my feet led me swiftly to the counter where she was trying to order. She immediately cleared up just long enough to get my name out and hug me. She proceeded to tell me through hazy, tear stained eyes that she had to grab the few bags that she had and run out the door before her husband started beating her again. I asked her what she was going to do. She said that she was going to walk to her grandpas house. It was cold and she could barely stand, let alone walk. I offered to give her a ride. Hubby sat in the back with Eloise and I drove. She told me that her grandfather lived in town....

SCARED:

....well just on the other side of the tracks. As we proceeded into a dark scary part of New Orleans I began to pray under my breath. She began to explain that her grandpa didn't know she was coming, but that he would let her stay, because she brought him a bottle of wine(what?!?). Struggling for words, I gave her my card and told her that coming to church might help to clear her mind.

-At that moment-

there were police cars in front of us and behind us. Before I knew what was going on there was a police officer with a gun pointed at my windshield yelling for all of us to, "PUT YOUR HANDS UP". We quickly did so. A few other officers came closer to the car and questioned everyone in the car. I was still praying under my breath, because I teach at our local jail and I knew that this woman had a previous arrest record. Jail is where I had seen her those couple of times.

After looking at our drivers' licenses they turned their attention to our passenger. It was obvious they didn't completely buy her story about her grandfather, but they let her go to the house. They then apologized for scaring us, but advised us to get back on our side of the border. We waited to make sure she got inside safely. When the door opened, I could clearly see that it was not her grandfather, as she and all of her 10 siblings are Caucasian and this gentleman was not. The man that opened the door had a look of contempt on his face, but when he noticed the bottle sticking up out of her bag he let her in.

Heartbroken:

As we pulled of I could only pray that the contents of the bottle was the only thing she would have to give up in exchange for shelter.

I turned the car towards home,
safety, warmth, love. . .
. . .God.

Tears began to well up.

I began to admonish my baby girl. I told her not to ever believe the lie that the grass is greener outside of the Church. I also explained that the devil comes in many disguises and that it doesn't matter what he looks like he isn't our friend. His goal is to rob us of any thing that reminds him of God. He can't stand the idea that God loves us.

The Bible says,

"In the beginning God created. . . .
. . . and He saw that it was good"

Oh my word! I thought you were writing a very good English paper here & then realized this was reality!!!! If people would only realize what God can do for them & how much he can REALLY change their lives! We got a lot to pray for & this particular girl has been our prayers already! know what I mean.....